New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-11-29
THE HOLY OFFICE.
PERSECUTION SYSTEMATlZED.


and partial histories there have been, but either
they are rendered worthless by their bias they
are marred by lack of research and uncrltical con-
clusons 1t was full time the task was assumed by
a writer who realized ITS responsibilities and inpl
cations and ii may fairly be asserted that Mr.. Lea
possessed special aptitude and special equipment
for the work The researches which were neces'l
tated by his studies on "SuperstIt0n and Force
and "SacerdOtal Celibacy" lad taken him into the
heart of the period dominated by the spirit and
methods of the Inquisition. In that medieval
world he could not take Z step III any direction
without encOuntering evidence OF that rc1Vadlhg
influence. Its dark and depressing agency gave
the tone 10 morals. society, Jurisprudence and
government. No student of the Middle Ages could
fail to become deeply impressed with the ubiQuity
and omnpoence of the Holy Office, orcOuld fail to
perceive the significance OF Its relations. not alone
to the civilization of its period. but TO human
progress generally.
But to recognize the importance of the subject is
one thing; to deal with it spassOnatcly is quite
another. The most judicial impartialty can
indeed never make of IT less than the
most appalling record eXtant of human frailty {:
but ITS annals are written luridly i'll blood
and fire that the growth and systematlzation
of the vast engine of oppression can hardly he fol-
lowed without inducing strong an access OF
horror. pity and Indignation as might warp the
the INDICTMENT of the coolest Mr. Lea has
mounted this difficulty. "NO one he asserts III
his prospectus :" is fitted for the execution of such
task who is not tolerant to the point of oerating
intolcrauce-whO cannot recognize that the wise
and good could conscIentiouSly believe 1t to be
their hiChc, t duty to God and man TO cXtermlnate
ut any cost all diSSidcnce OF belief, and to compel
all wanderers back to the path of salvation lie
has kept up his standard. Nowhere in the course
OF his narrative does he fail to give the Church,
the lnquiStion the secular authorities that carried
out its sentences full credit for sincerity of pur
pose when they deserve il. Nowhere does he fat
10 point ont where such reminder seems needtui.
the influences oxertcd by the tendencies and the
civilization of the period upon mems consciences
and minds and sensibilltcs On every page the
determination to advance nothing unaccompanled
hyproof is conspicuous No important statement
is unsupported by citations. No tradition, how
ever acceptable to modern prejudice, Is allowed to
S and when the weight of proof is against it, Care
Jul and thorough inquiry precedcs cautions and
temperate Judgment throughout. And out of tins
scientific analysis the history of the lnquslilon
comes more terrible, more hIdeous, more shocking
e. all modern concepts of religion, honor, humanity.
than 1t ever appeared before.
Nh Lea opens his great work with Wow of
The state Of the Church in the twelfth century.
1t seemed death-Strickcn 1t was rotten from
foundation to copestonc. The Roman Curia set an
example of shameless venality and immortality
which the clergy throughout Christendom initiated
but too eagerly. The life of the priests of the
time was not only not above but distinctly below
that Of tn. common people. Saccrdotal celibacy
was responsible in part Cor this. Human nature re-
VOTED against unnatural ascctcism, and scandal
was the result. SmOLy pluralisn, drunken
ness gluttOny, irreligion, We're among the offences
generally charged upon the clergy. The sale of in
Gulgenccs had already been 50 systematized and
expanded that there was infamy which could
not be compounded with Heaven by a money pay
ment, and il was not uncommon for professional
criminals to obtain absolution in advance for an
uncommitted outrage much rs the traveller to-day
purchases an accident insurance policy before max
ing railway journey The Church had in fact ceased
to represent the higher aspirations of the world.
II had forfeited mems confidence. and in SO doing
lad broken down its own authority. But tn
people did not cease 10 believe in God because the
Church had failed them. In answer To the general
though perhaps unvOiccd demand for n trust
worthy faith, gew teecher5 spraug u2 now here,
now there and gathered about them the nuclei
o. simpler and purcr churches. As Mr.. Lea points
out. these were anti-saccIdotal hcrescs Tor thr
most part, not III any sense anli-Christian. Moth
ING can be more strictly evangelical than the doc
movement was an appeal from the Papacy to
Christ 1t was an attempt to slough of the
fragrant and notorious c,rrnpnons Of the Church
and to restore the Christianity Of the Gospels and
Of The primitive church.
Rome viewed the rise and rapid spread of these
hcrcscs with increasing alarm Knowing
well the reality OF tho corruption
against which they were practical protests,
the CurlI cadeavorcl 10 recall the clergy TO their
Guty This Of couIsc WAS the right remedy could II
have been applied; but the deterioration Of the
Church had PROCEEDED too far The Curia itself
was far too deeply stained to speak with any au-
thority upon religious or ethical questions TO tho,"
who knew its inner history. The clergy only
laughed and di,rcGmd"A its appeals. II presently
became Gle that unless the spread 81 hcrcSy could
BE checked the Church must fall; nay, II even
seemed possible tha', with the amazing expansion
OF the mystic and ascetic faith. the prOpaga-
tioa OF the human race throughout Christcnd3m
might be brought 10 a stand. The corruption Of
the Church, which had produced the anti-sacerdO-
tai revolt could not, however. be cured. There re
NAMED then but one remedy, AID that was 10 on
force obedience to tins corrup; and despised Church
b. violent means. This auGaciOns policy would in
all probability have failed but for tic timely APP
pearancc OF those enthusiasts who founded the
Mendicant Orders. The followers Of Dominic and
Francis paved tie way for the Inqui,tion by re-
habilitatnG the faith OF the people in the spiriu
q ity Of the Church. it was by missionary work
INSPIRED by unse!fsh zeal that the Waldcnsc5 and
Cathari were recruited. 1t was in precisely the
same way that the Preaching Frius rcgaJned for
the Church OF Rome that popular confidence and
support which were necessary to the policy of per
secu'ion upon which she was about 10 embark.
The DomnIcans and FTancscans became the
motive power of the Inqus.ton. Their OigdnIza-
ton and methods, which dispersed them
over Europe, gave them access everywhere, and
put within their reach the minutest Information
concerning the people among whom they work, fit
ted them peculiarly for the development and adj
minIstratIOn Of the vast system Of espionage which
for nearly five centuries kept Christendom chained
and helpless at the feet Of the IuquSiton, and
paralyzcd progress throughout the greater part Of